Alaska Airlines’ JFK lounge with ‘West Coast vibe’

The new Alaska Lounge at New York’s JFK airport is Alaska Airlines’ first lounge on the East Coast of the US, but has more than a hint of the Seattle-based airline’s West Coast origins.

Designed to approximate the casual comfort of a living room, the lounge is staffed by Starbucks-trained baristas, and the food menu includes a selection of West Coast wine and beer as well as healthy choices like oatmeal and yogurt in the morning and soup and salad at lunch and dinner.

“We’re always looking to create warm, welcoming experiences for our guests,” said Brett Catlin, managing director of guest products at Alaska Airlines, who said the JFK lounge “reflects the future of our lounge offering.”

The lounge, available free to First Class passengers, Alaska Lounge members, and anyone else travelling on the airline who purchases a day pass for $45, is located on the mezzanine of JFK’s Terminal 7.

Annual memberships include access to Alaska’s other lounges in Anchorage, Los Angeles, Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, as well as approximately 90 others worldwide.

Alaska Airlines currently operates 14 daily flights from JFK, including recently announced service to San Jose, California.